Main menu

Secondary menu

Search

Follow Us

News

You are here

SEIA is the solar energy industry’s go-to source for the latest coverage on solar power, including U.S. and international policy, research and polls, business and financing trends, and more. Our staff strives to support the media covering solar energy issues and guide our members on effective media outreach with clear statements, background materials, news and multimedia resources.

SEIA is committed to informing policymakers, the media, and the American public about the benefits of solar energy for today’s communities, our economy, and our country.

WASHINGTON, DC – According to a new report by The Solar Foundation, Nevada’s solar industry employment grew 146 percent in the past year, allowing it to rise to 7th in number of solar jobs by state and 1st in per-capita solar jobs. Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) said that the big jump in employment is the result, in part, of pro-growth policies supported by Senator Harry Reid and Senator Dean Heller. The state added 3,500 solar jobs over the previous year.

Massachusetts' continued commitment to clean, solar energy is paying off, according to a just-released report by The Solar Foundation, which shows the state second only to California in solar jobs. Reacting to the news, Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), said this remarkable progress is a result of several factors.

Under the California Climate Leadership initiative, State Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León, Senators Ben Hueso, Mark Leno, Fran Pavley and Bob Wieckowski, with the support of leaders from the business, labor, public health, consumer advocacy, and environmental communities, have announced a package of bills that would help meet Governor Brown’s climate change objectives by setting clean energy goals, divesting in fossil fuels and spurring growth in the clean energy economy. Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), released the following statement applauding the initiative:

Chinese billionaire Li Hejun, chairman of solar-equipment manufacturer Hanergy Holding, is expanding his business into the auto sector.

Hanergy will launch five models of solar-powered cars in October, according to a post on the company’s website. The models can run up to 100 km after four hours of charging, according to the statement.

“Hanergy is working with three foreign partners and two domestic firms to develop solar-powered vehicles,” the firm says in the statement. “The market potential is huge.”

Pages

Calling it an “enormous success,” Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), said SEIA’s 2nd annual “Shout Out for Solar” Day, which took place last Friday on social media venues including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, set impressive new records for the organization’s communications team.

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) today announced the end of the successful Commonwealth Solar II program, which will have provided rebates for more than 13,000 solar electric systems at homes, public buildings, and small businesses across the Commonwealth since 2010.

In a move toward clarifying the tax code, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced that clarification of sales tax treatment for solar energy will be included in his budget proposal being sent to the state legislature. After reviewing the proposal, Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), issued the following statement:

WASHINGTON, DC - As expected, the U.S. International Trade Commission today upheld the imposition of tariffs against Chinese and Taiwanese solar products, as part of a 2014 investigation into allegations of unfair trade practices. After the decision was announced, Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) released the following statement:

Citing its continued growth, President Obama once again has singled out solar energy in his annual State of the Union speech. Afterward, Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), released the following statement:

As high clouds slipped in front of the sun, executives from MillerCoors flipped the switch Thursday on the largest solar panel array of any brewery in the country. The beer company partnered with SolarCity, the largest solar provider to Fortune 500 companies, cities and schools.

Tumbling oil prices will maintain pressure on the solar industry to consolidate by drying up investor interest in building new factories, according to an executive who just carried out a $1.2 billion merger.

Dong Kwan Kim, chief commercial officer of Hanwha SolarOne Co. (HSOL), said the industry has been “unfairly penalized for oil prices” and that the company that ranks among the top three panel makers may return to profit this year for the first time since 2010.

Jigar Shah, one of the today’s leading cleantech champions, will keynote the Summit on Creating Prosperity and Opportunity Confronting Climate Change on February 18 at Vermont Technical College in Randolph. Shah founded and is former CEO of SunEdison where he pioneered “no money down solar” and unlocked a multi-billion-dollar solar market, creating the world’s largest solar services company.

Arno Harris, SEIA Board Chairman and Nat Kreamer, SEIA Board Vice Chairman, write that under SEIA president and CEO Rhone Resch, SEIA has helped our industry achieve an impressive list of policy successes, allowing solar to become one of the fastest-growing industries in America, as well as the fastest-growing source of renewable energy.

Today, President Obama announced at a Walmart in California that 300 leading U.S. companies have taken the “solar pledge,” committing to install nearly 1 gigawatt (GW) of new solar as part of their business plans. For America’s solar energy industry, this is like getting a triple-A investment rating from Moody’s or Standard and Poor’s. Solar has become a ‘street-smart’ investment. These companies are expanding their use of solar because it makes sense from both a business and social responsibility viewpoint. Having worked closely with both the Administration and the private sector to increase the use of clean, reliable solar nationwide, SEIA applauds this exciting, new initiative, and we look forward to assisting commercial businesses, home builders, rural coops, governmental entities and America’s financial community in bringing these new solar installations online.

As expected, a non-partisan committee of experts released its 148-page National Climate Assessment (NCA) report today, offering the starkest warning yet about the dangers of climate change. After reading the report, I was left with one inescapable conclusion: We’re in real trouble unless we dramatically ramp up our efforts to curb pollution.

In 1970, the first Earth Day was held to demonstrate broad global support for environmental protection. At the time, the world’s population stood at 3.63 billion. Today, that number has more than doubled.

Well, guess what? Greenhouse gas emissions have doubled since then, too. Simply put, the world is in real danger, locked in on a collision course with disaster.

According to new industry data, a growing sector of the U.S. solar energy industry has reached a major new milestone, with 5 million square feet of building-integrated solar air heating collectors now installed in North America. These systems represent 250 megawatts (MW) of thermal energy and displace nearly 100,000 tons of CO2 each year from the atmosphere.

Last year, my father did what too many Floridians want to avoid but can’t: he broke his hip. I spent a good deal of time flying across the Sunshine State visiting him, often under sunny skies that showcased stunning views while I sat buckled into a window seat.

With a total of only 1,231 square miles, Rhode Island is the smallest state in America. But in a short period of time, the state is starting to have a big impact on the development of renewable energy resources nationwide. Wind and solar power have economic benefits that reach far and wide. They have become increasingly affordable, attracting billions in private development, and today are both mainstream and reliable energy sources across America.

While Americans know wind and solar energy are clean, they often aren't aware of the economic success story behind these renewable-energy technologies. Wind and solar power have economic benefits that reach far and wide. They have become increasingly affordable, attracting billions in private development, and today are both mainstream and reliable energy sources across America.